Strides still being made to combat Chikungunya virus

Sep 07, 2014 News

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…as Ministry builds capacity in other Regions

By Sharmain Grainger

With cases of clinical Chikungunya virus being reported in many sections of the country, there is no denying that the Ministry of Health is battling to control a daunting health challenge.  Ever since the first two cases were confirmed in Region Six over three months ago, the cases have increased considerably.

There is perhaps hardly a village on the coastland that has not been plagued with clinical cases of the virus. This publication has been reliably informed that while less than 100 cases have been confirmed, there are hundreds of individuals who have manifested symptoms of the virus in recent months.
And many persons are dreading that it is just a matter of time before they too become victims of the virus as well. Although the viral disease is not believed to be life-threatening, medical officials have insisted that failure to access treatment and take necessary precautions could result in fatal complications.
Although Guyana only recorded its first confirmed cases in May, the virus had in fact infiltrated the Caribbean Region since last year, an unprecedented phenomenon due to the fact that the virus was previously only endemic to parts of Africa and Asia.
Guyana, like the rest of the Caribbean, has been relying on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad to test for the virus. But with the evident widespread impact it seems that health officials are convinced that Health Ministries will have to prepare for the worse before the virus dissipates and becomes better managed such as is the case with dengue and malaria, both of which are also mosquito-borne diseases.
In fact the Chikungunya virus is manifested with symptoms similar to that of dengue fever although joint and muscle pains have been listed among the more pronounced symptoms. Symptoms include: high fever, nausea, skin rash and headaches all of which can be treated.
It was just last week that the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) reported that Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr James Hospedales, was warning that the Caribbean should prepare for the “full impact” of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus. He divulged that currently cases of the virus exceeds an estimated 600,000 while there are a total of 9,000 confirmed cases with a total of 37 resulting deaths.
Although the local Ministry of Health has not acknowledged any deaths linked to the virus, there are reports of at least two suspected deaths – one of a young female child and another of an elderly man.
But the Ministry of Health from all indications has not given up the fight. In fact, in the past week the Ministry resumed an intensified fogging regimen. There were many complaints from citizens that the Ministry was not doing its part to protect citizens from the virus which, like dengue fever, is spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The mosquito is one that thrives well in relatively clean water.
And in what appeared to be an attempt to appease the concerns that were vocalised even at the level of the political opposition, the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health targeted a number of city locations for fogging in its recent schedule.
But according to Director of Vector Control Services, Dr Reyaud Rahman, the fogging move was certainly not a reactive one but rather a strategic undertaking by the Health Ministry. He is adamant that the Ministry has been quietly working to combat the virus and has not failed to sustain its efforts.

Among the city areas that were subjected to a recent three-day fogging schedule were: Kingston, Cummingsburg, Lacytown, Bourda, Alberttown, Queenstown, Bel-Air Park, Lamaha Gardens, Newtown, Campbellville, Kitty, Subryanville, Bel-Air Gardens, Prashad Nagar, Bel-Air and Bel-Air Springs.
Aside from fogging the environment, Dr Rahman disclosed that specific attention has been given to public buildings such as police stations, hospitals and schools.
And according to Dr. Rahman, the fogging exercise is designed to exterminate the adult mosquitoes which can carry the Chikungunya virus. He disclosed that another bout of fogging will be undertaken in another week’s time.
He however disclosed that the fogging activities will certainly not be limited to the city. While areas in Berbice were earlier unable to build capacity to tackle the virus, as it was in that section of the country that it was first detected, Dr Rahman said that efforts have already started to build similar capacity in other Regions. He disclosed that the Vector Control Officers have been working closely with officials of Regions Three and One to equip them with the relevant skills to tackle the virus on their own.
“Right now we are training and supporting them and afterwards we will continue to give them technical guidance, even manpower and vehicles, to aid the process,” said Dr Rahman.
He explained that in order for the fogging exercise to be most effective, residents in the targeted communities are urged to keep their windows opened during the activity to allow the fog mist into the buildings to kill the vectors.
And to avoid any health problems, Dr Rahman cautioned that persons seek to cover all drinking water and secure all food stuff, both cooked and uncooked, to prevent possible contamination. He also noted that persons should seek to secure all domestic animals and poultry, and ensure that persons who suffer from asthmatic conditions, young children and the elderly, are kept away from the direct flow of fog.
He however cautioned that the Ministry of Health alone cannot win the fight against the virus even as he pointed out that “the Ministry of Health reminds Guyanese that vector control is a partnership. While the Ministry of Health will conduct this fogging exercise, residents are encouraged to keep their yards clean by removing all empty containers that can breed mosquitoes and to always sleep under mosquito nets so as to prevent the mosquito-borne diseases.”

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